To be faithful to their own vocation, our Friars immerse themselves in the concrete situations of the people among whom they live. They discover in them the different faces of Christ. The same can be said for the parishioners of Sacred Heart, members of a diverse and dynamic downtown community. Sacred Heart’s Justice Ministry serves as a concrete example our parish’s commitment to the Franciscan devotion to J.P.I.C., or Justice, Peace, and the Integrity for Creation. This action-oriented ministry responds to local problem areas by examining Catholic social teaching, Papal Encyclicals like Fratelli Tutti and Magnifica Humanitas, and the Gospel, and by partnering with more than 30 other justice ministries from multiple faith traditions across the county as a member of the Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality (HOPE). Every year, HOPE surveys for areas of injustice in Hillsborough County communities through several phases, beginning with the conversations had by those who attend parochial House Meetings. From the threads woven across each congregation’s House Meetings, problem areas are compiled. Following personal testimonies about these common problem areas at the annual Convention, HOPE congregations and members vote on their priority for the year, with volunteers then researching and deriving an action plan to persuade officials to address the problems over the ensuing months. We then recruit parishioner, friends, family, and all who want to be involved to attend HOPE’s signature annual event, the Nehemiah Action, where member congregations show up in large numbers while HOPE board members and clergy present their research findings and policy suggestions addressing these problem areas to local officials. For the 2026-27 cycle, HOPE has set an attendance goal of 2,000 for the Nehemiah Action. Our parish alone brought 64 to the last action, and has sights on doubling our parishioner involvement as Sacred Heart’s Justice Ministry enters its second year working with HOPE. The cycle concludes with a humble banquet celebrating any success achieved at the Nehemiah. HOPE presented Sacred Heart with an award at the spring 2026 banquet recognizing our Justice Ministry’s rapid growth and participation at the Nehemiah Action. Below are the dates for HOPE’s countywide events for the 2026-27 cycle (locations to be added as they are announced): Throughout 2026 and 2027, Sacred Heart’s Justice Ministry will meet monthly, on the second Wednesday, in the North Campus Alumni Hall at 7 p.m. (subject to venue changes; updates will be posted to this page, and on the parish calendar)
Hillsborough Organization for Progress & Equality
Rob Boelke
Staff Liaison
